Training camp is right around the corner, and so too are the eternal hopes of players who could make a serious impact.
ESPN recently compiled an article of all of the surprise players throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp. It tasked reporters for every team to list at least one player who turned heads and could potentially make some noise in the fall.
For New England Patriots reporter Mike Reiss, that player was veteran safety Mike Brown.
Brown signed a one-year, $1.35 million deal with the Patriots this offseason. He played nine games for the Tennessee Titans in 2025 and has been with the organization since 2022. Reiss wrote:
“With Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson locked in as the starting safeties, there is a question about who will be the top backup, and the 6-foot-1, 218-pound Brown looks like the leading candidate. Brown signed a one-year, $1.35 million deal with a modest $50,000 signing bonus as an unrestricted free agent — not the type of pact that comes with great expectations. But he was working as a top personal protector on the punt team and rotated in immediately after Byard and Woodson on defense, as his familiarity with the D from his time playing for the Tennessee Titans under Mike Vrabel was possibly a catalyst for a strong spring.”
The Patriots have one of the most talented defensive backfields in the league, and the addition of Brown adds another level of experience and reliability behind All-Pro Kevin Byard and rising Year 2 standout Craig Woodson.
Brown’s past connection with Vrabel at the Titans has likely been the secret ingredient that helped him hit the ground running in the early practices. We’ll see how well it continues when the pads eventually come on in training camp.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: ESPN’s surprise Patriots performer not first, second or third guess
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